Kakarakaya Pulusu/Bitter Gourd Stew

Bitter gourd stew

Today I’ve prepared bitter gourd stew just following my mom’s recipe. We have to include bitter gourd in our regular diet because of it’s enormous health benefits. One large bitter gourd is sliced into round pieces. The sliced pieces are sautéed in tempering till they are completely done. Tamarind extract, red chilli powder, sambar powder and required amount of salt and water are added. Boiled the stew furthermore for few minutes. Here I present delicious Kakarakaya Pulusu which is served with hot steamed rice along with other accompaniments. Njoy Cooking, Serving n Savoring!

Ingredients:

Bitter gourd: 1 large or 2 small

Homemade Sambar powder: 2 tsp

Red chilli powder: 1 tsp

Tamarind: Big lemon size

Salt: As required

Besan flour: 2 tsp

Jaggery powder: 2 tsp

Turmeric: Generous pinch

Curry leaves: One sprig

Coriander leaves: Few

Tempering:

Oil: 1 tbsp

Mustard seeds: Half tsp

Fenugreek seeds: Few

Asafoetida: A pinch

Garlic flakes: 5/6 nos.

Method of preparation:

🌸. Take one large bitter gourd, rinse well with water and chop into round slices. Remove seeds and keep aside.

🌸. Heat kadai and pour oil for tempering. Add mustard and fenugreek seeds. When mustard splutter add a pinch asafoetida and garlic flakes. Sauté them for few seconds and add chopped bitter gourd slices.

🌸. Add a pinch of salt, turmeric and drizzle little water. Mix well and stir occasionally. Once they are cooked add sambar powder and red chilli powder. Sauté for seconds and add tamarind extract and required amount of salt. Bring it to boil.

🌸. Once it starts boiling, add half cup of water to Besan flour and add the mixture to the boiling stew. Also add few curry leaves and jaggery powder. The addition of jaggery to any stew balances all the flavors present in it.Boil furthermore for few minutes and switch off the flame.